Census Bureau Cuts Red Tape in Trade Rules
Published Date: 3/30/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting March 30, 2026, the Census Bureau is making its foreign trade rules simpler and easier to follow by cutting out extra references and combining similar sections. This change helps businesses and officials save time and money without changing any actual trade responsibilities. If you deal with U.S. export controls or customs, these updates will make your job smoother and clearer!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-year export recordkeeping requirement
Sec. 30.15 confirms that records related to a shipment must be kept for five years from the date of export. It also says records about license exceptions or exemptions must be kept in the format required by the agency that controls the license.
Streamlined export rules for clarity
Starting March 30, 2026, the Census Bureau consolidated and simplified Parts 30.15–30.19 into a single Sec. 30.15 and removed Secs. 30.16–30.19. If you work with exports, the rule aims to make the foreign trade regulations easier to follow and reduce unnecessary language so officials and businesses can find the controlling agency rules more directly.
No new paperwork under PRA
The rule states that it will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. That means the amendment itself does not add any new federal paperwork duties beyond existing requirements.
Export control and reporting duties reaffirmed
The rule restates that the Electronic Export Information (EEI) is used for statistical and export control purposes and requires all parties to an export transaction to comply with relevant export control and licensing regulations. USPPIs and authorized agents remain responsible for following other agencies' reporting rules in addition to the statistical requirements.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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2026-19301, Proposed Data Sharing Activity
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2026-18481, Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions
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